Marilyn Monroe: The Complete Last Sitting
Bert Stern (Photographer), Annie GottliebOverview
Bert Stern, the famous commercial and fashion photographer of the 60s, was the last to be granted a sitting by Marilyn Monroe six weeks before her tragic death. The three-day session yielded nearly 2,600 pictures-fashion, portrait, and nude studies-of indescribable sensual and human vibrancy, of which no more than 20 were published. And yet these few photographs ineradicably shaped our image of Marilyn Monroe.This book presents the complete set of 2,571 photos. The monumental body of work by the master photographer and the Hollywood actress marks a climax in the history of star photography, both in quantity and quality. It is a unique affirmation of the erotic dimension of photography and the eroticism of taking photos, and it is the world’s finest and largest tribute to Marilyn Monroe.
Synopsis
Out of print for some time, our volume presenting the complete set of 2571 photos is now available again in an unaltered edition. In his foreword, Bert Stern relates the planning and course of this unusual sitting that was to become a memorable and unrepeatable event for all involved — especially for posterity.
Library Journal
Stern was the last fashion photographer to put Monroe through her paces just weeks before her untimely demise. This book collects the entire shoot, a whopping 2,571 color and monochrome pix, although many are presented in reproductions of 120mm and 35mm contact sheets. Stern must have worked Monroe hard, because the actress runs the gamut from appearing as her usual sex-bomb movie persona to looking like a hausfrau fresh out of bed and in dire need of coffee and a shower (note: there is quite a bit of nudity throughout). Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.